Mechanically locked electrical connector



Aug. 28, 1962 G. P. FELTS MECHANICALLY LOCKED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Original Filed March 18, 1957 i5z A 20 9 47 25 24 22 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent M 3,051,925 MECHANICALLY LOCKED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Gordon P. Felts, Palm Springs, Calif., assignor to Micro- ;iot Inc, South Pasadena, Calili, a corporation of Caliorma Continuation of application Ser. No. 646,630, Mar. 18, 1957. This application Jan. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 86,238 12 Claims. (Cl. 339-91) This application constitutes a continuation of application Serial No. 646,630 filed March 18, 1957, now abandoned for a Mechanically Looked Electrical Connector.

The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors for conductors, and is more particularly concerned with connectors of the miniature type such as utilized for the interconnection of coaxial cables.

It is one object of the hereindescribed invention to provide a novel and unique connector structure, whereby cooperatively associated parts may be formed into subassemblies which may be secured by locking members simply by moving the parts into telescoped relation, and which eliminate the use of locking nuts and the like which necessitated the use of wrenches and other tools which were difficult of operation in such small connector units.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector wherein connecting current carrying parts may be mechanically locked in connected position, and released for separation by manipulation of an easily operable member, and wherein the current carrying parts Will be interconnected under good contact.

Still another object is to provide such a connector wherein the parts will be retained in tight holding and positive engagement and will not be easily dislodged by vibration and the like, and yet may be readily separated by releasing a locking mechanism.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a mechanically locked electrical connector embodying the features of the present invention, the connector parts being in connected relation and looked against separation;

FIG. 2 in an enlarged transverse sectional view showing certain details of the locking features for certain of the elements, taken substantially on line 2 2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of one of the connector structures, in section, with the mating structure removed so as to show certain constructional details.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes, the electrical connector of the present invention is disclosed as of the two part type, wherein mating connectors, usually of the male and female type, are adapted for endwise axial movement into connected and separated positions.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 1, the connector is shown as comprising a part as generally indicated at A, and a part as generally indicated at B, which will now be described in detail.

Certain of the elements constituting the part A are arranged to be first assembled into subassemblies which are so arranged as to permit the subassemblies to later to cooperatively associated and locked into associated position, without the necessity of utilizing tools. One of these subassemblies comprises a jerk relief contact ring which is soldered at one end to the outer conducting shield 11 of a coaxial cable containing a central conductor 3,051,925 Patented Aug. 28,, 1962 12 insulated from the shield by an inter-posed layer of insulation 13. The ring '10 is formed with a tubular extension 14 of somewhat less thickness and is slit longitudinally at substantially diametric points to form angularly extending spring contact fingers 15.

Associated with the subassembly thus far described, there is provided a cap lock 16 of suitable material such as brass, which may be silver plated, this cap lock having a bottom opening 17 in which an outer layer of insulation 18 is positioned to insulate the conducting shield 11 therefrom. The cap look 16 abuts the adjacent end of the contact ring 10 and has its wall portion longitudinally slit at circumferentially spaced intervals so as to form a plurality of segmental fingers 19, each having a hooked outer end 20, as shown in FIG. 2.

A cap bend relief 21 of suitable material, such as neoprene, is formed at one end so as to grippingly surround and engage the outer insulation 18 of the cable, and receive the cap lock 16 within an interior cavity 22. The cap lock 16 is retained in position within this cavity by means of an annular abutment flange 23 which bears against the outer ends of the fingers 19. From the flange 23, the wall of the cap bend relief 21 is extended to provide an end opening 24 of slightly greater internal diameter. This subassembly is completed by soldering one end of a contact member 25 to the central conductor 12.

The next preassembled subassembly of part A will now be described. This subassembly comprises a tubular ferrule of brass, which may be silver plated, and is generally indicated by the numeral 26. This ferrule contains a main tubular body portion 27 intermediate its ends, one end of this body portion having a rather thick walled integrally formed extension 28 terminating at its outer end in a tapered end portion 29. At its other end, the body portion 27 is provided with an outwardly projecting radial annular flange 30, while radially inwardly from the flange, there is formed a tubular extension 31.

Surrounding the extension 31 and soldered or other- Wise bonded thereto adjacent the flange 30 is a ring member 32 having a plurality of elongate spring like fingers 33, FIGS. 1 and 3, which are spaced apart circumferentially around the tubular extension with their outermost ends extending therebeyond and being provided with hooked end portions 34. Positioned Within the outer end of the extension 31 is a contact ring 35 which is likewise soldered or otherwise bonded to the extension 3 1. This ring is longitudinally slit at its inner end at substantially diametric points to form angularly extending spring contact fingers 36.

This subassembly is completed by the preassembly therewith of an unlocking sleeve 37 which is mounted with its inner end 38 contracted to form a reduced end portion which is adapted to slidingly engage and reciprocably support the sleeve for movement on the body portion 27. The outermost end of the sleeve 37 is formed with an inwardly extending annular end flange 39 provided with a beveled oamming surface 40 adapted upon movement of the unlocking sleeve towards the left, as shown in FIG. 1, to coast with beveled camming surfaces 41 on the hooked ends 34 of the spring like fingers 33 to spread the fingers outwardly to unlock or unlatching position with respect to part B of the connector, as will hereinafter be more fully described. Movement of the unlocking sleeve 37 in the opposite direction is limited by the abutment of the reduced end portion 38 with the annular flange 30.

Two subassemblies have been described which may be preassembled and stocked until it is desired to assemble them into the part A of the connector. The fabrication of the two sub-assemblies into assembled relation, with an insulated bushing 42 may be accomplished at any time, without the use of special tools. The bushing 42 comprises a main body portion 43 of tubular construction which is formed to tightly fit over the contact member 25, this body portion having a smaller diameter integrally formed extension 44 projecting from one end so as to completely insulate the con-tact member 25, while the other end of the body portion has an end extension 45 of appropriate diameter to extend over the insulation 13 and under the tubular extension 14 of the contact ring 10.

When desired to assemble the subassemblies described above, the insulated bushing 42 is positioned within the body portion 27 of the ferrule 26 Where it is retained against movement in one direction by an internal flange 46. The subassemblies may now be brought into cooperative position by inserting the tapered end portion 29 endwise through the abutment flange 23 until this end of the ferrule reaches the limit of its movement, in which position the outer ends 20 of the segmental fingers 19 are adapted to move into a circumferentially extending groove 47, whereupon the ferrule is locked in position with the spring contact fingers 15 making frictional pressure contact therewith so as to establish a good electrical connection between the ferrule and the outer conducting shield 11 of the associated coaxial cable.

The mating part B of the connector of this invention is shown in FIG. 1 as comprising an inner elongate contact member 48 of suitable conducting material which is axially supported within a tubular housing 49 of conducting material by means of an intervening insulating bushing 50 of insulating material such as Teflon. The housing 49 is of thin wall construction at its innermost end so that this end may enter endwise through the ring 35 and in the full extent of its inserted position make pressure contact with the spring contact fingers 36 so as to establish an efficient and good electrical connection between the ferrule 26 and the housing 49. In this position of the part B, the hooked ends 34 are adapted to enter a circumferentially extending groove 51 so as to interlock the part B against separation from part A.

It will also be observed that in this position of the parts, a shoulder 52 formed on the tubular housing 49 is adapted to underlie the end flange 39 of the unlocking sleeve and form a support therefor at this end during reciprocable movements of the sleeve.

Various types of connectors may be utilized for interconnecting the contact member 25 and the inner contact member 48 respectively of the parts A and B. In the present instance, the contact member 25 is shown as being formed with an end opening recess 53 which is adapted to receive endwise therein a banana-pin connector 54.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical connector for coaxial cable having a central conductor and an outer insulated conductor sheath: a current carrying member secured to said central conductor; a ring member of current conducting material securedto said outer conductor and having a plurality of peripheral integral spring contact fingers; a cylindrical locking member concentrically surrounding said ring member, said locking member being positionable endwise over one end of said ring member and having an internal shoulder making abutment engagement with said one end; a cylindrical current conducting ferrule positionable endwise over the other end of said ring with its inner surface engaged by said springcontact fingers, said lock-. ing member and said ferrule having their adjacent ends overlapped; and means interlocking said overlapped ends against separation.

2. In an electrical connector for coaxial cable having 4 a central conductor and an outer insulated conductor sheath: a current carrying member secured to said central conductor; a ring member of current conducting material secured to said outer conductor and having a plurality of peripheral integral spring contact fingers; a cylindrical locking member concentrically surrounding said ring member, said locking member being positionable endwise over one end of said ring member and having an internal shoulder making abutting engagement with said one end; a cylindrical current conducting ferrule positionable endwise over the other end of said ring with its inner surface engaged by said spring contact fingers, said locking member and said ferrule having their adjacent ends overlapped; and interlocking shoulders carried by said overlapped ends for retaining the locking member and ferrule against separation.

3. In an electrical connector for coaxial cable having a central conductor and an outer insulated conductor sheath: a current carrying member secured to said central conductor; a ring member of current conducting material secured to said outer conductor and having a plurality of peripheral integral spring contact fingers; a cylindrical locking member having a plurality of circumferential spring fingers surrounding and extending over one end of said ring member and radially spaced therefrom; a cylindrical current conducting ferrule positioned over the other end of said ring and extending under the spring fingers of said locking member, so that its inner surface is engaged by the spring contact fingers of said ring member; and interlocking shoulders on said locking member spring fingers and said ferrule for retaining the locking member and ferrule in assembled relation.

4. In an electrical connector for coaxial cable having a central conductor and an outer insulated conductor sheath: a current carrying member secured to said central conductor; a ring member of current conducting material secured to said outer conductor and having a plurality of peripheral integral spring contact fingers; a cylindrical locking member concentrically surrounding said ring member, said locking member being positionable endwise over one end of said ring member and having an internal shoulder making abutment engagement with said one end; a cylindrical current conducting ferrule positionable endwise over the other end of said ring with its inner surface engaged by said spring contact fingers, said ferrule having a portion surrounding said current carrying member; an insulating bushing between said portion and the current carrying member retained by a shoulder on said ferrule; and means interlocking overlapped portions of said locking member and said ferrule against separation.

5. In an electrical connector having mating structures, one of said structures comprising a first inner conductor; a first tubular outer conductor including a main body portion insulated from said inner conductor and having a cylindrical end extension; a plurality of outer spring fingers carried by said extension, said fingers having hooked ends extending beyond the outer end of said extension; a plurality of inner spring fingers carried by said extension; the other of said structures comprising a second inner conductor adapted to make contact with the first inner conductor when the structures are interengaged; a second tubular outer conductor including a main body portion insulated from the second inner conduct-or and having an extension frictionally engageable by said inner spring fingers; -a circumferential groov in the main body portion of said second tubular outer conductor for receiving said hooked ends so as to lock said structures in interengaged relation and against separation; and cam means carried by one of said structures for moving said hooked ends out of said groove to enable separation of said structures.

6. In an electrical connector having mating structures, one of said structures comprising a first inner conductor; a first tubular outer conductor including a main body portion insulated from said inner conductor and having a cylindrical end extension; a plurality of outer spring fingers carried by said extension, said fingers having hooked ends extending beyond the outer end of said extension; a plurality of inner spring fingers carried by said extension; the other of said structures comprising a second inner conductor adapted to make contact with the first inner conductor when the structures are interengaged; a second tubular outer conductor including a main body portion insulated from the second inner conductor and having an extension frictionally engageable by said inner spring fingers; a circumferential groove in the main body portion of the second tubular outer conductor for receiving said hooked ends so as to lock said structures in interengaged relation and against separation; and an elongate sleeve having one end slidably supported on the main body portion of said first tubular conductor, and the other end of said sleeve having an annular cam surface operable upon movement of said sleeve in one direction to lift said hooked ends from said groove to enable separation of said structures.

7. In combination in an electrical connector, a housing having an external shoulder at an intermediate position along the length of the housing and having a guide surface at one end, a ring disposed on the housing for movement relative to the housing and including at least one spring finger having an internal shoulder for disposition in locking relationship to the external shoulder on the housing upon a movement of the finger relative to the housing in a first direction along the guide surface of the housing and into telescopic relationship to the housing, there being a particular surface on the finger for lifting the finger from the shoulder on the housing to obtain a separation of the finger from the housing, supporting means fixedly coupled to the ring for obtaining a unitary movement of the ring and the supporting means, and a sleeve disposed on the supporting means in spaced relationship to the finger along the length of the finger and having at one end a particular surface for engaging the particular surface on the finger to lift the finger against the spring action of the finger upon an initial movement of the sleeve in the second direction opposite to the first direction, and to obtain a subsequent unitary movement of the ring, the supporting means and the sleeve into separate relationship ot the housing.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 in which the particular surfaces on the sleeve and on the ring have beveled surfaces shaped relative to each other to provide a lifting action on the finger upon a separation of the sleeve from the housing.

9. In combination in an electrical connector, a ring having at one end at least one spring finger shaped to provide a first surface for receiving camming action to lift the fingers and having an internal shoulder, a sleeve supported on the ring extending along the length of the finger in spaced relationship to the finger along such length and having an internal shoulder shaped to bear against the first surface of the finger on the ring for providing a camming action on the finger to lift the finger against the spring action of the finger upon an initial movement of the sleeve in a first direction and to obtain coordinated movements of the ring and the sleeve in the first direction after such initial movement, means coupled to the sleeve and fixedly coupled to the ring for obtaining a unitary movement of the sleeve and the ring in the first direction after the initial movement of the sleeve and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a housing having an external shoulder for engaging the internal shoulder on the ring upon a movement of the ring and the sleeve in the second direction to obtain a locking of the ring, sleeve and housing in telescoped relationship, the housing having an external configuration along its length to facilitate a movement of the finger on the sleeve in the second direction into a locking relationship between the internal shoulder on the finger and the external shoulder in the housing.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 in which the first surface on the finger and the internal shoulder on the sleeve have a tapered configuration to facilitate the camming action of the internal shoulder on the finger in lifting the finger.

11. In combination in an electrical connector, a sleeve having an internal shoulder shaped to provide a camming surface upon movement of the sleeve in a first direction, means including a ring supporting the sleeve for movement with the ring and disposed Within the sleeve and having at least one spring finger disposed in spaced relationship to the sleeve along its length and in contiguous relationship to the internal shoulder in the sleeve at its outer end and shaped at its outer end to receive a cam-rning action by the sleeve for lifting the finger against the spring action of the finger upon an initial movement of the sleeve in the first direction and for moving with the sleeve in the first direction after such initial movement, and a housing disposed within the ring and having a shoulder portion at an intermediate position along its external configuration for engaging the finger upon movement of the ring and the sleeve in a second direction opposite to the first direction to retain the sleeve, ring and housing in a telescoped relationship, the housing having an external configuration to guide the movement of the finger on the housing in the second direction into engagement with the shoulder portion of the housing.

12. In combination in an electrical connector, a ring having at least one spring finger shaped at its outer end to have a detent portion for retaining the finger in a first position and further shaped to have a particular surface for obtaining a lifting of the finger to a second position removed from the first portion, a housing constructed to support the finger and externally shaped to guide the movement of the finger along the housing and having an external shoulder for receiving the detent portion of the finger to retain the finger, and a sleeve enveloping the housing and the ring and the spring finger and disposed in spaced relationship to the finger along the length of the finger for movement with the ring in only a telescoping direction relative to the housing to obtain a locking relationship between the shoulder on the housing and the detent in the ring, the sleeve having at its outer end a particular surface shaped to engage the particular surface of the ring upon a movement of the sleeve in only an exploded direction relative to the housing to obtain a lifting of the finger on the ring from the shoulder on the housing against the spring action of the finger and to obtain a subsequent movement of the ring with the sleeve into exploded relationship with respect to the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,409,650 Wiggins Oct. 22, 1946 2,448,725 Morris Sept. 7, 1948 2,566,993 Parsons Sept. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,073,679 France Mar. 24, 1951 

